480
opinion Commander Kelly was not to blame in the least, but on the contrary endeavoured to carry out the exigencies of the situation in the best possible way. Owing to the dense fog the troops did not arrive till 9 A.M. and there being but two small boats the landing of the whole party was not completed till 9.45 A.M. There was a distance of nearly 4 miles to be traversed in a very hot sun. An advance guard was formed and at 10.45 A.M. the column arrived at Taipo Hau City. Mrs Lockhart on arrival asked me to halt the column at the Temple and with the aid of the troops but without the least violence some 9 or 10 of the leading inhabitants, shopkeepers and others were brought to the Temple and there questioned separately as to what had become of Mr. May and his party. At first they denied all knowledge of him but gradually on being questioned separately they began to give detailed information with the result that we were satisfied that no positive injury had been inflicted on Mr. May's party; that he and all with him had made good their escape; but that the mat-shed in which he had been was burnt to the ground. Satisfied of this I assembled these men and having taken their names I informed them through the interpreter that their own Viceroy would deal with any damage already done with the utmost severity and that on and after the 17th, when it would become my duty under Your Excellency's orders to take over the District, any disturbance
480
opinion Commander Kelly was not to blame in the least, but on the coutra-
ry endeavoured to carry out the efigefcies of the situation in
the best possible may owing to the dense fog the troops did not
the best possible way thin
arrive till 9 A.M. and there being but two small boats the land-
ing of the whole party was not completed till 9.45 A.M. There
was a distance of nearly 4 miles to be traversed in a very hot
sună An advance guard was formed and at 10.45 A.M. the column ar-
rived at Taipo Hul City Mrs Lockhart on arrival `asked me to
halt the column at the Temple and with the aid of the troops but
#ithout the least violence some 9 or 10 of the leading inhabit-
ants, shopkeepers and others were brought to the Temple and there
questioned separately as to what had become of Mr. May and his
partyr At first they denied all knowledge of him but gradually
on being questioned separately they began to give detailed ia-
formation with the rasylt that that we were satisfied that no positive injury had been laflicted on Mr. Hay's party; that he and all with him had made good their escape; but that the mat- shed in which he had been was burnt to the ground. Satisfied of
this I assembled these men and having taken their names I in- formed them through the loterpreter that their own Viceroy would deal with any damage already done with the utmost severity and that on and after the 17th. when it would beoone my duty under Your Excellency's orders to take over the District any
disturbance
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